In this edition of the Travel News Brief: join Direct Travel in a webinar focused on “Travel Policy as an Employee Recruitment/Retention Tool,” the latest on Boeing's 737 Max grounding, airlines expand flight service, Delta to cut seat recline on A320s, TSA campaign on REAL ID, travel safety tips, new hotels, tips on tipping the maid, the risks of traveling during hurricane season, 5 ways your TMC can upgrade a VIP’s travel experience and more!
Creating an exceptional VIP experience for your top executives is challenging. From booking travel to proactively monitoring their trips to planning exciting leisure activities to wine and dine clients – it takes time, experience and patience. Read More
BTN Group — As labor markets become more competitive, job prospects and current employees are starting to scrutinize key policies – including travel. Join Direct Travel and the BTN Group for a webinar on Thursday, May 2 at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT to learn how enhancing your travel policies can differentiate your organization and give you a leading edge in recruiting and retention. Register now
OA Online — “We’ve currently deployed a beta version of the newly integrated product from RingCentral and we believe that this will be a game changer for us in providing timely and effective customer service to our rapidly growing customer base," said Darryl Hoover, chief technology officer, Direct Travel. Read More
CNN — Management consultant ECA International has surveyed cities across the globe to work out which will leave travelers struggling to balance the books on the plane home…Read More
USA Today — United Airlines plans to begin nonstop flights between Newark, New Jersey, and Cape Town, South Africa, in December. Read More
Travel Market Report — Air carriers are adjusting schedules for the aircraft to give travelers adequate planning time ahead of a busy summer travel season. Read More
The Points Guy — Delta Air Lines is limiting how far passengers can lean back on some domestic flights, part of what the company says is a test of how to best preserve passengers’ personal space. Read More
Business Travel News — Next year, Delta will return to London's Gatwick Airport for the first time in nearly a decade, with service from Boston and New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. Read More
The Motley Fool — American Airlines is adding flights at its largest hubs, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and North Carolina's Charlotte Douglas International Airport. The carrier plans to offer 905 peak-day departures from DFW by July, up from 809 last year. Read More
Airline Ratings — United Airlines launched its international summer schedule on March 30 with a flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam. The airline is offering a record number of summer flights this year, including 31 new and returning routes. Read More
Travel Mole — Take a look inside the new aircraft…Read More
Meetings & Conventions — The carrier tops an annual study that ranks airlines by on-time arrivals, complaint rates and other statistical measurements...Read More
The Verge — The Department of Homeland Security says it expects to use facial recognition technology on 97 percent of departing passengers within the next four years. Read More
Travel Market Report — Set in motion by the REAL ID Act, the changes are meant to dramatically enhance and improve commercial aviation security. Read More
Smarter Travel — We got the inside scoop on what to pack, what to plan for, and how to conduct yourself while traveling. Read More
Travel Market Report — The new machines, with more advanced technology to detect explosives and other threats, will be phased into select airports this summer. Read More
Airport Technology — The technology will be implemented at Terminal One, which is home to 26 international carriers such as Lufthansa, Air France, Japan Airlines and Korean Airlines…Read More
U.S. Department of State — Information on current government issued travel warnings and alerts. Read More
Travel Daily News — The Uber for business (“U4B”) team began beta testing Vouchers late last year across a diverse group of retailers, restaurants and services, with over 100 global partners. Read More
Auto Rental News — Enterprise Holdings has formed a new partnership with Nippon Rent-A-Car International to expand car rental services in Japan. Read More
Travel Market Report — With a century of accomplishment under its belt, the brand pushes ahead into a future with a micro-hotel concept and the latest technology for its guests. Read More
Travel Market Report — The signings and conversions reach from the expansive Great Plains to the sunny West Coast and the tropical Caribbean. Read More
Insider Travel Report — Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced the addition of 25 new member hotels to its global portfolio between Jan. 1 to March 31, 2019. Read More
Travel Market Report — The new hotel is part of Marriott’s larger expansion plans to open 1,000 properties in the region by the end of 2020. Read More
Business Traveller (U.K.) — The opening of the St. Regis Hong Kong marks Marriott's 7,000th hotel worldwide…Read More
Smarter Travel — No doubt scrubbing toilets and tucking perfect sheet corners all day is tip-worthy. We asked an etiquette expert just how much of a tip is appropriate. Read More
Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) — As part of a $75 million concession redevelopment that began in 2017 and is expected to be completed in 2020, Chicago's Midway International Airport is in the process of overhauling its shopping and dining options for the first time in more than 20 years. Read More
Smarter Travel — Here's when your airline is obligated to help you... and when it's not. Read More
USA Today — Here’s some key advice to consider whenever you’re concerned your flight may be altered or canceled, but particularly due to Max groundings. Read More
Travel Market Report — These are the top carriers for handling baggage, leaving on time and keeping passengers satisfied. Read More
Meetings & Conventions — In an enormous win for a destination that has had its share of challenges lately, Puerto Rico has been chosen to host the World Travel and Tourism Council's 2020 Global Summit. Read More
Smarter Travel — Following these little-known passport rules can help. Read More
Smarter Travel — Prevent boredom, dehydration, DVT, sleep deprivation, and more. Read More
Los Angeles Times — Amid Los Angeles' ongoing $14 billion modernization effort, plans released last week indicate that even more investment and expansion is on the way for LAX, including construction of a new terminal. Read More
Northstar Meetings Group — Industry pros share ways to encourage attendees to give their opinions during and after a conference…Read More
Creative Group — Implications of too much choice on performance improvement program design…Read More
Las Vegas Review-Journal — In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the LVCVA's board of directors approved a deal for the renovation of the north, central and south exhibition halls, to finish by the end of 2023...Read More
Looking for guidance on planning your next convention, incentive, or group trip? Direct Travel will assist with all your meetings and event details! Whatever your needs may be when it comes to your event, you can always depend on us to design streamlined travel arrangements, plan strategic meetings, and deliver real-time results. For details, please send a message to: MeetingInquiry@dt.com.